COAS Reaffirms Nigerian Army’s Commitment to Strategic Partnerships for National Security

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with strategic stakeholders, veterans and international partners to address the country’s evolving security challenges.

Lieutenant General Shaibu stated this on Wednesday while receiving the leadership of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) Alumni Association of Nigeria, led by its President, Major General OO Oshinowo (Rtd), during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters, Abuja.

According to a statement signed by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, the Army Chief commended the association for its sustained interest in national security matters and acknowledged the contributions of retired senior military officers to the development of military strategy and national defence.

He noted that the Nigerian Army would continue to leverage the experience, institutional knowledge and strategic perspectives of veterans and defence professionals in addressing contemporary security threats across the country.

The COAS also reiterated the Army’s resolve to expand professional military education and deepen engagement with reputable international institutions, including the Royal College of Defence Studies.

He stressed that exposure to global best practices, emerging security trends and strategic-level training remained essential to building a professional, adaptive and mission-ready force capable of contributing effectively to the achievement of Nigeria’s national security objectives.

Earlier, the President of the RCDS Alumni Association, Major General Oshinowo (Rtd), expressed the association’s readiness to support ongoing national security efforts through strategic insights, professional expertise and policy recommendations.

He explained that the association, inaugurated in 2017 and made up of senior military officers and civilian leaders trained at the Royal College of Defence Studies, remained committed to contributing to national security discourse and policy development.

Oshinowo also commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their operational successes against terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality, expressing confidence that ongoing operations would further weaken criminal networks and enhance peace, stability and development across the country.